Display panel and display apparatus

ABSTRACT

An active matrix type display panel, used as a display-use panel, has pixel patterns each having aperture sections. The aperture sections are set to have a width satisfying the following inequality, 
 
0&lt;(minimum width of the aperture sections in the pixel)/(maximum width of the aperture sections in the pixel)≦0.037, or 
 
0.130≦(minimum width of the aperture sections in the pixel)/(maximum width of the aperture sections in the pixel)&lt;1.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a display panel and a display apparatuswhich are capable of displaying different images according to aplurality of viewpoints in a similar manner to 3D (three dimensional)display.

BACKGROUND ART

In a normal field of vision, humans have the two eyes that perceiveimages which the eyes view from two different viewpoints, respectively,due to their spatial separation in the head. Parallax of the two imagesallows humans to recognize by the brain the images from the twodifferent viewpoints as a stereoscopic image. By utilizing thisprinciple, there has been developed a liquid crystal display whichcauses an observer to view and recognize images from two differentviewpoints through the right eye and the left eye, respectively, so asto generate parallax, thereby carrying out a 3D (three-dimensional)display.

In a conventional 3D liquid crystal display, images from respectivedifferent viewpoints are supplied to the right and left eyes of theobserver, by first encoding the left eye image and right eye image on adisplay screen according to e.g. color, polarization state, or displaytime, and then separating these images through a filter system ofglasses worn by the observer. The filter system allows the left eyeimage and the right eye image which have been separated to be suppliedto the left eye and the right eye of the observer, respectively.

In another liquid crystal display, as illustrated in FIG. 8(a), adisplay panel 101 is combined with a parallax barrier 102 havinglight-transmitting regions and light-shielding regions arranged in astripe pattern. This allows an observer to recognize a 3D image withoutusing a visual assistance such as a filtering system (autostereoscopicdisplay). Specifically, a parallax barrier 102 gives specific viewingangles to a right eye image and a left eye image generated by thedisplay panel 101. When viewed in a specific spatial viewing region, theright eye image and the left eye image are viewed and recognized by theright eye and the left eye, respectively, so that a 3D image isrecognized by the observer (see FIG. 8(b)).

Further, by employing the same technique used in the 3D display, it ispossible to realize a display apparatus in which, when a single displayscreen image is viewed from different directions, i.e., the left andright directions, different images are displayed on the display screenfor the respective directions in which the display screen image isviewed and recognized. Specifically, by displaying images separated by aparallax barrier as different individual images, not as the right eyeimage and the left eye image in a 3D display, it is possible to supplydifferent images to a plurality of observers who view the single displayimage from the left and right directions.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication, No. 110495/1996 (Tokukaihei8-110495, publication date: Apr. 30, 1996) describes a crosstalk issuein a 3D display apparatus employing a liquid crystal panel and aparallax barrier. That is, this publication discloses that, according toa 3D display apparatus, a stereoscopic vision cannot be realized,because there is a region where both of a right eye image and a left eyeimage are observed by a single eye. Such overlapping of the right eyeimage and the left eye image is called as crosstalk.

However, according to the publication Tokukaihei 8-110495, crosstalk inthe 3D display apparatus is determined depending on an aperture ratio ofan aperture section of the parallax barrier, and it is understood thatno crosstalk occurs at an optimum viewing position.

Further, the aforementioned 3D display apparatus and the displayapparatus which supplies different images to respective observers employdisplay-use liquid crystal panels, which basically have a samestructure. In each of the display-use liquid crystal panels, each pixelpattern includes TFT devices and transparent pixel electrodes, forexample. Further, each of the pixel patterns is disposed, in a matrixmanner, at each intersection of a gate line and a source line. The gatelines and the source lines are isolated by an interlayer insulating filminterposed in between (not shown).

In such a liquid crystal display panel, normally, there is notsufficient liquid crystal capacitance between a pixel electrode and anopposing electrode (not shown). Therefore, an auxiliary capacity line isprovided in parallel to a gate line. When extending a drain electrode ofa TFT device up to the auxiliary capacity line, a section in which thedrain electrode and the auxiliary capacity line are superimposed isformed. This allows an auxiliary capacitor (an electric charge holdingcapacitor) to be formed between the drain electrode and the auxiliarycapacity line in the superimposed section. An insulating layer betweenthe drain electrode and the auxiliary capacity line in the superimposedsection acts as an insulating material.

However, inventors of the present invention have found that when theconventional liquid crystal panel is used in a 3D display apparatus orthe like, crosstalk occurs even in the optimum viewing position, whereno crosstalk is supposed to occur according to the publicationTokukaihei 8-110495. This causes a display performance to be degradeddue to the crosstalk.

That is, in each of the pixel patterns on the liquid crystal displaypanel, an aperture section, i.e., a light-transmitting region, will notbe in a simple rectangular shape due to positions of the disposed TFTdevices and/or auxiliary capacitors, or other factors. In this case, theaperture section may partially have a narrow gap due to positions orshapes of the disposed TFT devices or auxiliary capacitors, or otherfactors.

When the light passes through small aperture sections with a regularinterval, the light has a characteristic causing its propagationdirection to curve (i.e., diffraction phenomenon). As such, when a pixelpattern includes such aperture sections having a narrow gap, lightpassing through the aperture sections causes a diffraction phenomenon.

On this account, as illustrated in FIG. 9, in a 3D display apparatus inwhich a parallax barrier and a display-use liquid crystal panel arecombined, for example, in cases where light causes the diffractionphenomenon during a period in which the light, to which a specificviewing angle is given, passes through the parallax barrier, it becomesimpossible to completely separate the light into “light for the lefteye” and “light for the right eye”. This would give rise to the problemthat an optical crosstalk occurs and a 3D display performance isdegraded.

Specifically, when the light is diffracted as it passes through theaperture sections having a narrow gap (indicated by bold lines in FIG.9), in addition to the light to which a specific viewing angle is givenas it passes through the parallax barrier, the light thus diffractedcauses to serve to supply the left eye image and the right eye image tothe right eye and the left eye of the observer, respectively (in thisspecification, such optical behavior is referred to as crosstalk). Thecrosstalk behavior causes an image to be appeared as a blurred imageduring 3D display. Note that, the similar problem occurs during adisplay in which different images are supplied to a plurality ofobservers. In this case, the observers perceive an image in which onedisplay image overlaps another display image.

The crosstalk due to the diffraction phenomenon is not an inherentproblem in a parallax barrier system, but occurs in other systems suchas systems using lens arrays or glasses. Further, the crosstalk occursnot only in a system where a display image is separated according to aplurality of viewpoints at one time, but also in a system where adisplay image is separated according to a plurality of viewpoints in atime division manner.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The present invention is made to solve the foregoing problems, and anobject of the present invention is to provide a display panel and adisplay apparatus each of which suppresses a crosstalk due todiffraction phenomenon and improves a 3D display and a display whichsupplies different images to a plurality of observers.

To attain the above object, a display panel of the present inventionincludes: display image generating means for generating a display imageaccording to inputted display data; and display image separating meansfor separating the display image, at one time or in a time divisionmanner, according to a plurality of viewpoints, the display imagegenerating means being an active matrix type display panel, aperturesections in each pixel pattern of the display panel having a width setso as to satisfy the following inequality,0<(minimum width of the aperture sections in the pixel)/(maximum widthof the aperture sections in the pixel)≦0.037, or0.130<(minimum width of the aperture sections in the pixel)/(maximumwidth of the aperture sections in the pixel)<1.

According to the arrangement, by setting -the width of the aperturesections in each pixel pattern to the range specified above, it ispossible for a crosstalk to have a value of less than 5.6, the crosstalkoccurring due to a diffraction phenomenon during a display in which adisplay image is separated according to a plurality of respectiveviewpoints at one time or in a time division manner. This allows areduction in negative effects on the visibility.

Further, to attain the above object, another display panel of thepresent invention includes: display image generating means forgenerating a display image according to inputted display data; anddisplay image separating means for separating the display image, at onetime or in a time division manner, according to a plurality ofviewpoints, the display image generating means being an active matrixtype display panel, aperture sections in each pixel pattern of thedisplay panel having a width set so as not to fall within a rangespecified by the following inequality:2 μm<(minimum width of the aperture sections in the pixel)<7 m.

According to the arrangement, by setting the width of the aperturesections in each pixel pattern to the range specified above, it ispossible for a crosstalk to have a value of less than 5.6, the crosstalkoccurring due to a diffraction phenomenon during a display in which adisplay image is separated according to a plurality of respectiveviewpoints at one time or in a time division manner. This allows areduction in negative effects on the visibility.

To attain the above object, another display panel of the presentinvention includes: display image generating means for generating adisplay image according to inputted display data; and display imageseparating means for separating the display image, at one time or in atime division manner, according to a plurality of viewpoints, thedisplay image generating means being an active matrix type displaypanel, a light shielding film being provided to avoid that the lightenters aperture sections, in each pixel pattern of the display panel,having a narrow gap.

According to the arrangement, in a case where a pixel pattern includesaperture sections causing a crosstalk due to a diffraction phenomenongiving rise to negative effects on the visibility, it is possible toprevent crosstalk due to the diffraction phenomenon by covering theaperture sections with the light-shielding film so that the diffractedlight causing the crosstalk is blocked.

Additional objects, features, and strengths of the present inventionwill be made clear by the description below. Further, the advantages ofthe present invention will be evident from the following explanation inreference to the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating a pixel pattern on a displaying panelaccording to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an exemplary structure ofa 2D/3D switching type liquid crystal display panel to which the presentinvention is applied.

FIG. 3(a) is a cross-sectional view illustrating a structure of apatterned retardation plate used in the 2D/3D switching type liquidcrystal display panel.

FIG. 3(b) is a plan view illustrating a structure of the patternedretardation plate used in the 2D/3D switching type liquid crystaldisplay panel.

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating an optical axis direction in each memberof the 2D/3D switching type liquid crystal display panel.

FIG. 5(a) is a view illustrating a pixel pattern used in simulations toinvestigate how the width of an aperture affects a crosstalk.

FIG. 5(b) is a view illustrating how a pixel pattern is when the widthof the aperture section shown in FIG. 5(a) is 0%.

FIG. 5(c) is a view illustrating how a pixel pattern is when the widthof the aperture section shown in FIG. 5(a) is 100%.

FIG. 6 is a graph showing a result of the simulations.

FIG. 7(a) is a plan view illustrating an exemplary structure in whichlight-shielding films are disposed on aperture sections having a narrowgap in a pixel pattern on a displaying panel according to one embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 7(b) is a plan view illustrating another exemplary structure inwhich light-shielding films are disposed on aperture sections having anarrow gap in a pixel pattern on a displaying panel according to oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8(a) is a view showing an effect of giving a viewing angle causedby a parallax barrier in 3D display.

FIG. 8(b) is a view illustrating viewing regions for a 3D display imagein 3D display.

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a principle that the diffracted lightcauses a crosstalk in a conventional 3D display apparatus.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

With reference to figures, one embodiment of the present invention isdescribed below.

First, FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic structure of a 2D/3D switchingtype liquid crystal display panel of the present embodiment. Note that,the present embodiment takes as an example a liquid crystal displaypanel of the present invention applied to a 2D/3D switching type liquidcrystal display panel.

As shown in FIG. 2, the 2D/3D switching type liquid crystal displaypanel includes a display-use liquid crystal panel (display imagegenerating means) 10, a patterned retardation plate (parallax barriermeans) 20, and a switching liquid crystal panel 30, which are bondedtogether. The 2D/3D switching type liquid crystal display panel of thepresent embodiment is integrated with driving circuits, a backlight(light source), and other components, which realizes a 2D/3D switchingtype liquid crystal display apparatus.

The display-use liquid crystal panel 10 is provided as a TFT liquidcrystal display panel, and includes a first polarizing plate 11, anopposing substrate 12, a liquid crystal layer 13, an active matrixsubstrate 14, and a second polarizing plate 15, which are stacked inlayers. Through wiring 51 such as flexible printed circuits (FPC), theactive matrix substrate 14 receives image data corresponding to an imageto be displayed. Further, a surface of the second polarizing plate 15 iscoated with an organic film, i.e., an acrylic resin film 16.

The patterned retardation plate 20 functions as a part of a parallaxbarrier. As shown in FIG. 3(a), the patterned retardation plate 20includes a transparent substrate 21, an alignment film 22, and a liquidcrystal layer 23, which are stacked upwards from bottom in this order.In an active area of the patterned retardation plate 20, as shown inFIG. 3(b), first regions 20A (shaded regions in the figure) and secondregions 20B (projected regions in the figure) having differentpolarization states are arranged alternately in a stripe pattern.Further, the patterned retardation plate 20 is provided with analignment mark 20 c, which is formed in the same process for forming thefirst region 20A.

The switching liquid crystal panel 30 includes a driver-side substrate31, a liquid crystal layer 32, an opposing substrate 33, and a thirdpolarizing plate 34, which are stacked in layers. The driver-sidesubstrate 31 is connected to wiring 52. Through the wiring 52, a drivingvoltage is applied to the driver-side substrate 31 when the liquidcrystal layer 32 is ON.

The switching liquid crystal panel 30 is provided as switching means forswitching a polarization state of light passing through the switchingliquid crystal panel 30 upon switching of the liquid crystal layer 32 ONor OFF. Specifically, the switching liquid crystal panel 30 opticallymodulates the light passing through the switching liquid crystal panel30 differently in the 2D and 3D display modes. Unlike the display-useliquid crystal panel 10, the switching liquid crystal panel 30 does notneed to be driven in a matrix manner. Driving electrodes, which areprovided on the driver-side substrate 31 and the opposing substrate 33,are formed over an entire surface of an active area of the switchingliquid crystal panel 30.

Next, the following describes a display operation of the 2D/3D switchingtype liquid crystal display panel arranged in the foregoing manner.

To begin with, FIG. 4 illustrates an optical axis direction of eachmember of the 2D/3D switching type liquid crystal display panel shown inFIG. 2. In the liquid crystal panels and retardation plate, the opticalaxes shown in FIG. 4 are directed in the direction of a slow axis of thealignment film (i.e. a rubbing direction of the alignment film). In thepolarizing plates, the optical axes are directed in the direction of atransmission axis.

In the arrangement of FIG. 4, incident light emitted from a light sourceis firstly polarized by the third polarizing plate 34 of the switchingliquid crystal panel 30. In the 3D display mode, the switching liquidcrystal display panel 30 functions as a half wave plate in the offstate.

The light having passed through the switching liquid crystal panel 30then enters the patterned retardation plate 20. In the first region 20Aand the second region 20B of the patterned retardation plate 20, rubbingdirections, i.e. directions of slow axes, are different. Therefore,light having passed through the first region 20A and light having passedthrough the second region 20B are polarized differently. In FIG. 4, thepolarization axis of the light passing through the first region 20A andthe polarization axis of the passing through the second region 20B areshifted from each other by 90°. The birefringence anisotropy andthickness of the liquid crystal layer 23 is set so that the patternedretardation plate 20 serves as a half wave plate.

The light having passed through the patterned retardation plate 20enters the second polarizing plate 15 of the display-use liquid crystalpanel 10. When 3D display is performed, the polarization axis of thelight having passed through the first region 20A of the patternedretardation plate 20 is parallel to the transmission axis of the secondpolarizing plate 15. Therefore, the light having passed through thefirst region 20A passes through the polarizing plate 15. On the otherhand, the polarization axis of the light having passed through thesecond region 20B forms an angle of 90° with the transmission axis ofthe second polarizing plate 15. Therefore, the light having passedthrough the second region 20B is not transmitted through the polarizingplate 15.

According to the arrangement in FIG. 4, the function of the parallaxbarrier is attained by optical interaction between the patternedretardation plate 20 and the second polarizing plate 15. According tothis arrangement, the first region 20A of the patterned retardationplate 20 serves as a light-transmitting region, and the second region20B of the patterned retardation plate 20 serves as a light-shieldingregion.

The light having passed through the second polarizing plate 15 issubjected to optical modulation in the liquid crystal layer 13 of thedisplay-use liquid crystal panel 10. Here, the optical modulation isdifferent for the pixels undergoing black display and the pixelsundergoing white display. Only the light having subjected to opticalmodulation of the pixels undergoing white display is transmitted throughthe first polarizing plate 11, which thus provides image display.

Here, in the 3D display mode, light-transmitting region light rays aregiven specific viewing angles as the light rays pass through thelight-transmitting regions of the parallax barrier. Then, the light rayspass display-use liquid crystal panel 10 through pixels corresponding toa right eye image and pixels corresponding to a left eye image of thedisplay-use liquid crystal panel 10. This causes the separation betweenthe right eye image and the left eye image with respectively differentviewing angles, thus providing a 3D display.

In the 2D display mode, the switching liquid crystal panel 30 is turnedON, so that the light passing through the switching liquid crystal panel30 will not be optically modulated. The light having passed through theswitching liquid crystal panel 30 passes through the patternedretardation plate 20. in such a manner that the light having passedthrough the first region 20A and the light having passed through thesecond region 20B have different polarization states.

However, unlike the 3D display mode, the switching liquid crystaldisplay panel 30 does not perform optical modulation in the 2D displaymode. Therefore, the polarization axis of the light having passedthrough the patterned retardation plate 20 will be symmetrical withrespect to the transmission axis of the second polarizing plate 15. As aresult, the light having passed through the first region 20A of thepatterned retardation plate 20 and the light having passed through thesecond region 20B of the patterned retardation plate 20 pass through thesecond polarizing plate 15 at the same transmittance. Thus, the functionof the parallax barrier due to optical interaction between the patternedretardation plate 20 and the second polarizing plate 15 is not attained(that is, no specific viewing angles are given), with the result that 2Ddisplay is carried out.

Note that, the foregoing takes as an example a liquid crystal displaypanel of the present invention applied to a 2D/3D switching type liquidcrystal display panel. However, an object of the present invention is toprevent crosstalk due to diffraction phenomenon in a display-use liquidcrystal panel used in a 3D display apparatus or a display apparatuswhich supplies different images to a plurality of observers. Thus, thepresent invention may be applied to (i) a 3D type liquid crystal displaypanel or 3D type liquid crystal display apparatus which does not includethe switching liquid crystal panel 30 (i.e. an exclusive arrangement forthe 3D display) or (ii) a display apparatus which supplies differentimages to respective observers (an arrangement allowing switchingbetween a display mode in which different images are supplied torespective observers and a normal display mode, or an exclusivearrangement for displays of different images to respective observers).

In the case where the present invention is applied to (i) the 3D typeliquid crystal display panel which does not include a switching liquidcrystal panel or (ii) the display apparatus which supplies differentimages to respective observers, a half wave plate is provided instead ofthe switching liquid crystal panel, and a slow axis of the half waveplate is adjusted to be in a rubbing direction of the switching liquidcrystal panel. However, the third polarizing plate 34 shown in FIG. 2remains on the light source side of the half wave plate, which isprovided instead of the switching liquid crystal panel (on the surfaceof the patterned retardation plate 20 opposite to its surface to whichthe liquid crystal panel 10 is bonded).

The present invention is not limited to the foresaid liquid crystaldisplay panel or liquid crystal display apparatus. The present inventionis applied to (i) a display panel or display apparatus which has,instead of the switching liquid crystal panel 30 or the patternedretardation plate 20, a parallax barrier made of a light shieldingmaterial such as a light shielding metal film or black resin, or (ii) adisplay panel or display apparatus in which a light shielding materialis directly deposited in a stripe pattern on the opposing substrate 12or the active matrix substrate 14. Needless to say, the display panel orthe display apparatus which employs such a parallax barrier can beapplied to the display panel or the display apparatus exclusive for (i)the 3D display or (ii) the displays of different images to respectiveobservers.

Further, the present invention is not limited to a parallax barriersystem. The present invention is also applied to a display panel or adisplay apparatus each of which employs (i) a system using lens arraysor glasses or (ii) a system performing time division and synchronizationwith regard to directional characteristics of the light source and adisplay image, so as to separate a display image for a plurality ofviewpoints at one time or in a time division manner. Needless to say,such a display panel or a display apparatus may be the one whichswitches display images to unseparated display images or whichexclusively displays separated images.

In the liquid crystal display apparatus of the present invention, thedisplaying liquid crystal panel serves as a main component forpreventing a crosstalk due to the diffraction phenomenon occurred in thedisplaying liquid crystal panel. Thus, the following describes detailsof the structure of the displaying liquid crystal panel of the presentembodiment.

In the active matrix substrate 14 of the display-use liquid crystalpanel 10 used in a display apparatus of the present embodiment, thedisplay-use liquid crystal panel has pixel patterns, each including TFTdevices 83 and transparent pixel electrodes 86 as illustrated in FIG. 1.Further, each of the pixel patterns is disposed, in a matrix manner, ateach intersection of a gate line 80 and a source line 81. The gate lines80 and the source lines 81 are isolated by an interlayer insulating filminterposed in between (not shown).

In the liquid crystal display panel, normally, there is not sufficientliquid crystal capacitance between the pixel electrode 86 and anopposing electrode (not shown). Therefore, an auxiliary capacity line(auxiliary capacity wiring) 82 is provided in parallel to a gate line80. When extending a drain electrode 83 c of a TFT device up to theauxiliary capacity line 82, a section in which the drain electrode 83 cand the auxiliary capacity line 82 are superimposed is formed. Thisallows an auxiliary capacitor (an electric charge holding capacitor) 84to be formed between the drain electrode 83 c and the auxiliary capacityline 82 in the superimposed section.

The drain electrode 83 c of the TFT device 83 is connected to the pixelelectrode 86 through a hole provided on the interlayer insulating film,specifically in a portion corresponding to the auxiliary capacitor 84,and a gate electrode 83 a is connected to the gate line 80 whichsupplies a scan signal for switching on or off the TFT device 83. On theother hand, a source electrode 83 b is connected to the source line 81which inputs an image signal to the pixel electrode through the TFTdevice 83.

The auxiliary capacity line 82 produces negative capacitance since theinsulating film, disposed at the intersection with the source line 81,serves as an insulating material. The negative capacitance causes delaysof the scan signal and the image signal. Therefore, the negativecapacitance is lowered by reducing an area of the auxiliary capacityline 82 over the source line 81 at the intersection. Specifically, thereduction in the area is realized by reducing the width of the auxiliarycapacity line 82. On the other hand, in order to secure the auxiliarycapacitance, the auxiliary capacitor 84 itself is enlarged in width soas to be maximally close to the source lines 81 provided on the bothedges of the pixel pattern. That is, the auxiliary capacity line 82 isformed to have a narrow line width at the intersection with the sourceline 81, while having a broad line width in the pixel pattern.

As noted above, the width of the auxiliary capacity line 82 over thesource line 81 is made to be narrow so that an area at the intersectionis reduced, while the auxiliary capacitor 84 is enlarged in width so asto be close to the source lines 81 provided on the both edges of thepixel pattern. By forming the auxiliary capacitor 84 in such a shape,narrow gaps, i.e., aperture sections 88, are created between Cs(auxiliary capacitor) and the source lines.

For a liquid crystal display panel as shown in FIG. 1, the greatestconcern is that the narrow-gap aperture sections 88 between the Cs andthe source lines may have the diffraction phenomenon causing acrosstalk.

With a liquid crystal display panel of the present invention, twomethods are broadly proposed for reducing the diffraction phenomenon andsuppressing a crosstalk.

A first method for suppressing a crosstalk is a method of obtaining theconditions causing diffraction of light passing through the narrow-gapaperture sections and then designing the pixel patterns having no suchnarrow-gap aperture sections at the designing phase of the pixelpatterns. The first method is described below.

The following describes a result of performing simulations toinvestigate a relationship between the width of the narrow-gap aperturesections and a crosstalk in the pixel patterns. First, the pixelpatterns used in the simulations is described with reference to FIG. 5.

As illustrated in FIG. 5(a), the pixel pattern has a length of 180 μmand a breadth 60 μm (hereinafter referred to as vertical size andbreadth size, respectively, for ease of explanation). The source linesand the gate lines have a width of 3 μm each. Thus, in each pixelpattern, a maximum breadth size of the aperture regions surrounded bythe source lines and the gate lines is calculated by60−3×2=54 [μm].

Further, in the pixel pattern, the auxiliary capacitor is provided inthe aperture region, and the auxiliary capacity line constituting theauxiliary capacitor is made to have a reduced line width at theintersection with the source line. This results in creating the aperturesections having a narrow gap of x μm wide between the Cs (auxiliarycapacitor) and the source lines. In the following simulations, crosstalkvalues are obtained in cases where the width of the narrow-gap aperturesections, i.e., x μm, is changed by 1 μm pitch from 0 μm to 27 μm. Notethat, in a case where the width x μm of the aperture sections is 0 μm,as illustrated in FIG. 5(b), the auxiliary capacity line is made to havea broad line width entirely, with the result that no narrow-gap aperturesection is created. On the other hand, in a case where the width x μm ofthe aperture sections is 27 μm, as illustrated in FIG. 5(c), theauxiliary capacity line is made to be thin entirely, with the resultthat no narrow-gap aperture section is created.

Since such a crosstalk occurs in carrying out a 3D display realized whena displaying liquid crystal panel having the pixel patterns and aparallax barrier (or in carrying out display which supplies differentimages to a plurality of observers), the following simulations wereperformed by setting a slit of the parallax barrier to have a width of30 μm, 33 μm, and 35 μm, respectively.

Further, the crosstalk values calculated by the simulations aredimensionless values determined by the following equation (1). In theequation (1), Dark indicates a brightness in black display when blackdisplay is carried out for either one of the right eye image and theleft eye image and white display is carried out for the other. On theother hand, Black indicates a brightness in black display when blackdisplay is carried out for both of the right eye image and the left eyeimage. Further, Bright indicates a brightness in white display whenblack display is carried out for either one of the right eye image andthe left eye image and white display is carried out for the other. Thelarger crosstalk occurs, the higher brightness Dark becomes due to thecrosstalk effect. As a result, the increased difference is given betweenDark and Black, resulting in an increase of a crosstalk value expressedin the equation (1). Needless to say, it is also possible to obtain thecrosstalk value by measuring the brightness and performing calculationbased on the equation (i): $\begin{matrix}{{{Crosstalk}\quad{value}} = {\frac{{Dark} - {Black}}{{Bright} - {Black}}.}} & (1)\end{matrix}$

The result of the simulations is shown in Table 1. Further, FIG. 6 is agraph plotting the result shown in Table 1.

In the simulations, the crosstalk values are obtained by calculating apropagation direction of light emitted from a light source based on (i)the size of a pixel element, the width of an aperture section, thethickness of a substrate, the refractive index of a substrate, thewavelength of the light source, which are used for generating a displayimage in a liquid crystal display apparatus and (ii) distances betweenthe two eyes. Then, the crosstalk value is calculated based on theoptimum pitch and width of a slit provided on a patterned retardationplate. TABLE 1 WIDTH OF SPACE BETWEEN Cs AND SOURCE LINE [μm] SLIT [μm]0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 30 4.415 4.886 5.181 5.639 5.971 6.105 5.672 5.0864.927 33 4.311 4.786 5.089 5.572 5.926 6.116 5.721 5.130 4.896 35 4.3014.781 5.091 5.595 5.967 6.190 5.830 5.246 4.954 SPACE BETWEEN Cs ANDSOURCE LINE [μm] 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 5.062 5.175 5.393 5.5665.515 5.355 5.228 5.135 5.187 5.147 4.945 5.029 5.220 5.371 5.385 5.3115.152 5.026 5.027 4.928 4.949 5.018 5.179 5.304 5.351 5.312 5.165 5.0605.013 4.859 SPACE BETWEEN Cs AND SOURCE LINE [μm] 19 20 21 22 23 24 2526 27 5.132 5.100 5.151 4.859 4.982 4.740 4.891 4.843 4.415 4.926 4.9344.947 4.718 4.832 4.545 4.719 4.689 4.309 4.860 4.875 4.884 4.716 4.8204.494 4.675 4.650 4.299

Table 1 and FIG. 6 show a result of the crosstalk values obtained by thesimulations, where the width of the slit of the patterned retardationplate and the width of the narrow-gap aperture sections in the pixel areboth changed. Note that, the values for the width of the slit of thepatterned retardation plate, shown in Table 1, are calculated based onthe pixel illustrated in FIG. 5.

As can been seen from the result shown in Table 1 and FIG. 6, thecrosstalk values significantly increase when the width x μm of theaperture sections ranges from 3 μm to 6 μm. That is, in the displayingliquid crystal panel of the present embodiment, it is preferable toeliminate the narrow-gap aperture sections having the width ranging from3 μm to 6 μm. Meanwhile, when the crosstalk value is 5.6 or greater,there occurs a crosstalk which affects visibility in a 3D display or adisplay supplying different video images to a plurality of observers.Thus, by eliminating the aperture sections having the width ranging from3 μm to 6 μm, the crosstalk value is made to be below 5.6, and therebythe crosstalk effect is suppressed. That is, as is apparent from theresult shown in Table 1, the width x μm of the aperture section is notmore than 2 μm or not less than 7 μm in order to obtain crosstalk valuesof below 5.6.

According to the result shown in Table 1 and FIG. 6, the range of thewidth of the aperture sections which causes a crosstalk that affects thevisibility may be expressed by the following inequality:(minimum width of the aperture sections in the pixel)/maximum width ofthe aperture sections in the pixel).Here, the maximum width of the aperture section in the pixel is 54 μm inthe direction along the width x μm of the aperture sections where thediffraction phenomenon is considered. In this case, the range of thewidth of the aperture section causing the crosstalk value to be 5.6 orgreater is given by the following inequality:0.037<(minimum width of the aperture sections in the pixel)/(maximumwidth of the aperture sections in the pixel)<0.130.

In other words, in carrying out a 3D display or a display which suppliesdifferent video images to a plurality of observers, it is possible toprevent the crosstalk effect on the visibility by setting the width ofall the aperture sections appeared in the pixel pattern to satisfy thefollowing inequality,0<(minimum width of the aperture sections in the pixel)/(maximum widthof the aperture sections in the pixel)≦0.037, or0.130≦(minimum width of the aperture sections in the pixel)/(maximumwidth of the aperture sections in the pixel)<1.

Further, in the displaying liquid crystal panel of the presentembodiment, by setting the narrow-gap aperture sections to have a widthin such a range that the crosstalk value becomes below 5.2, it ispossible to further reduce the negative effect on the visibility incarrying out a 3D display or a display which supplies different videoimages to a plurality of observers.

According to Table 1, in order to have a crosstalk value of below 5.2,the aperture section is set to have a width in a range specified by thefollowing inequality,0<(minimum width of the aperture sections in the pixel)/(maximum widthof the aperture sections in the pixel)≦0.037,0.148≦(minimum width of the aperture sections in the pixel)/(maximumwidth of the aperture sections in the pixel)≦0.185, or0.296≦(minimum width of the aperture sections in the pixel)/(maximumwidth of the aperture sections in the pixel)<1.

Alternatively, in order to have a crosstalk value below 5.2, a width ofthe aperture section is set so as not to fall within a range specifiedby the following inequalities:2 μm<(minimum width of the aperture sections in the pixel)<8 μm,and10 μm<(minimum width of the aperture section in the pixel)<16 μm.

In the displaying liquid crystal panel of the present embodiment, it ismore preferable to have the crosstalk value of below 4.8 by eliminatingthe narrow-gap aperture sections having a width ranging from 1 μm to 26μm. This realizes an extremely high-definition 3D display or displaysupplying different video images to a plurality of observers, whichcauses almost no crosstalk.

The foregoing describes the aperture sections appeared between the Csand the source lines, by way of taking an example of narrow-gap aperturesections causing diffraction phenomenon, i.e., a cause of crosstalk.However, the locations of the narrow-gap aperture sections causing thediffraction phenomenon are not particularly limited. For example, whenthe drain electrode of the TFT device is formed of a shielding metalfilm, aperture sections between the drain electrode and the source linescan be applied for the present invention.

A second method for suppressing the crosstalk is considered as follows.When there are aperture sections which cause a crosstalk giving anegative effect on the visibility, the aperture sections are shieldedwith a shielding film, so that diffraction rays causing crosstalk areblocked. FIGS. 7(a) and 7(b) illustrate pixel patterns on a displayingliquid crystal panel adopting the second method.

In a pixel element pattern on a displaying liquid crystal panelillustrated in FIG. 7(a), a shielding film 89 is disposed in parallel tothe gate lines 80 in order to shield the aperture sections appearedbetween the Cs and the source lines. The shielding film 89 has a widthsubstantially equal to that of auxiliary capacitor 84 in its verticaldirection, and is disposed on the opposing substrate side. Further, ashielding film 90 may be provided to shield the TFT device 83. Further,the shielding film for shielding the aperture sections between the Csand the source lines may be disposed so as to shield only the aperturesections, as shown by shielding films 89′ in FIG. 7(b). The shieldingfilm may be disposed not only on the opposing substrate, but also on theactive matrix substrate.

According to the present embodiment, the foregoing describes a liquidcrystal panel adopting an active matrix substrate which may possiblyhave narrow-gap aperture sections, by way of taking an example of adisplay-use panel causing the crosstalk issue. However, the presentinvention is not limited to the liquid crystal panel used as adisplaying panel. Apart from the liquid crystal panel, for example, anorganic EL panel is considered to serve as a display panel using anactive matrix substrate. Even by using an organic EL panel as adisplaying panel, if narrow-gap aperture sections appear in a pixelpatterns on the panel, a similar problem will occur. Thus, the presentinvention is applied to a display apparatus using an organic EL panel orthe like as a displaying panel.

As described above, a display panel of the present invention includes:display image generating means for generating a display image accordingto inputted display data; and display image separating means forseparating the display image, at one time or in a time division manner,according to a plurality of viewpoints, the display image generatingmeans being an active matrix type display panel, aperture sections ineach pixel pattern of the display panel having a width set so as tosatisfy the following inequality,0<(minimum width of the aperture sections in the pixel)/(maximum widthof the aperture sections in the pixel)≦0.037, or0.130≦(minimum width of the aperture sections in the pixel)/(maximumwidth of the aperture sections in the pixel)<1.

According to the arrangement, by setting the width of the aperturesections in each pixel pattern to the range specified above, it ispossible for a crosstalk to have a value of less than 5.6, the crosstalkoccurring due to a diffraction phenomenon during a display in which adisplay image is separated according to a plurality of respectiveviewpoints at one time or in a time division manner. This allows areduction in negative effects on the visibility.

Further, in the display panel, the width of the aperture sections in thepixel pattern of the active matrix type display panel is set to satisfythe following inequality,0<(minimum width of the aperture sections in the pixel)/(maximum widthof the aperture sections in the pixel)≦0.037,0.148≦(minimum width of the aperture sections in the pixel)/(maximumwidth of the aperture sections in the pixel)≦0.185, or0.296≦(minimum width of the aperture sections in the pixel)/(maximumwidth of the aperture sections in the pixel)<1.

According to the arrangement, by setting the width of the aperturesections in each pixel pattern to the range specified above, it ispossible for a crosstalk to have a value of less than 5.2, the crosstalkoccurring due to a diffraction phenomenon during a display in which adisplay image is separated according to a plurality of respectiveviewpoints at one time or in a time division manner. This allows areduction in negative effects on the visibility.

Further, according to the present invention, a display panel includes:display image generating means for generating a display image accordingto inputted display data; and display image separating means forseparating the display image, at one time or in a time division manner,according to a plurality of viewpoints, the display image generatingmeans being an active matrix type display panel, aperture sections ineach pixel pattern of the display panel having a width set so as not tofall within a range specified by the following inequality:2 μm<(minimum width of the aperture sections in the pixel)<7 μm.

According to the arrangement, by setting the width of the aperturesections in each pixel pattern to the range specified above, it ispossible for a crosstalk to have a value of less than 5.6, the crosstalkoccurring due to a diffraction phenomenon during a display in which adisplay image is separated according to a plurality of respectiveviewpoints at one time or in a time division manner. This allows areduction in negative effects on the visibility.

Further, in the display panel, the width of the aperture sections in thepixel pattern of the active matrix type display panel is set so as notto fall within a range specified by the following inequalities:2 μm<(minimum width of the aperture sections in the pixel)<8 μm, and10 μm<(minimum width of the aperture sections in the pixel)<16 μm.

According to the arrangement, by setting the width of the aperturesections in each pixel pattern to the range specified above, it ispossible for a crosstalk to have a value of less than 5.2, the crosstalkoccurring due to a diffraction phenomenon during a display in which adisplay image is separated according to a plurality of respectiveviewpoints at one time or in a time division manner. This allows areduction in negative effects on the visibility.

Further, according to the present invention, a display panel includes:display image generating means for generating a display image accordingto inputted display data; and display image separating means forseparating the display image, at one time or in a time division manner,according to a plurality of viewpoints, the display image generatingmeans being an active matrix type display panel, a light shielding filmbeing provided to avoid that the light enters aperture sections, in eachpixel pattern of the display panel, having a narrow gap.

According to the arrangement, in a case where a pixel pattern includesaperture sections causing a crosstalk due to a diffraction phenomenongiving rise to negative effects on the visibility, it is possible toprevent crosstalk due to the diffraction phenomenon by covering theaperture sections with the light-shielding film so that the diffractedlight causing the crosstalk is blocked.

Further, in the display panel, the width of the aperture sectionsshielded by the light-shielding film is set to satisfy the followinginequality:0.037<(minimum width of the aperture sections in the pixel)/(maximumwidth of the aperture sections in the pixel)<0.130.

Further, in the display panel, the width of the aperture sectionsshielded by the light-shielding film is set to satisfy the followinginequality:2 μm<(minimum width of the aperture sections in the pixel)<7 μm.

Further, in the display panel, the active matrix type display panelincludes: an auxiliary capacitor in the pixel; and auxiliary capacitywiring constituting the auxiliary capacitor, the auxiliary capacitywiring having a narrow line width at an intersection with a source lineand having a broad line width in a pixel pattern.

In the display panel having the above structure, a narrow gap aperturesection tends to appear between the Cs (auxiliary capacitor) and thesource lines and causes a crosstalk. Thus, the present invention ispreferably applied to such a display panel

Further, in the display panel, the active matrix type display panel is aTFT (thin film transistor) driven type display panel.

In the display panel having the above structure, a narrow gap aperturesection tends to appear between the TFT device and the source lines andcauses a crosstalk. Thus, the present invention is preferably applied tosuch a display panel.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

A display panel of the present invention is capable of separating adisplay image, at one time or in a time division manner, according to aplurality of viewpoints and displaying different images to therespective viewpoints. With the display panel, a crosstalk due todiffraction rays can be reduced. The present invention is applicable toa 3D display or a display supplying different images to a plurality ofobservers.

1-2. (canceled)
 3. A display panel comprising: display image generatingmeans for generating a display image according to inputted display data;and display image separating means for separating the display image, atone time or in a time division manner, according to a plurality ofviewpoints, the display image generating means being an active matrixtype display panel, aperture sections in each pixel pattern of thedisplay panel having a width set so as not to fall within a rangespecified by the following inequality:2 μm<(minimum width of the aperture sections in the pixel)<7 μm.
 4. Thedisplay panel according to claim 3, wherein the width of the aperturesections in the pixel pattern of the active matrix type display panel isset so as not to fall within a range specified by the followinginequalities:2 μm<(minimum width of the aperture sections in the pixel)<8 μm,and10 μm<(minimum width of the aperture sections in the pixel)<16 μm.
 5. Adisplay panel comprising: display image generating means for generatinga display image according to inputted display data; and display imageseparating means for separating the display image, at one time or in atime division manner, according to a plurality of viewpoints, thedisplay image generating means being an active matrix type displaypanel, a light shielding film being provided to avoid that the lightenters aperture sections, in each pixel pattern of the display panel,having a narrow gap.
 6. (canceled)
 7. The display panel according toclaim 5, wherein the width of the aperture sections shielded by thelight-shielding film is set to satisfy the following inequality:2 μm<(minimum width of the aperture sections in the pixel)<7 μm.
 8. Thedisplay panel according to claim 3, wherein the active matrix typedisplay panel includes: an auxiliary capacitor in the pixel; andauxiliary capacity wiring constituting the auxiliary capacitor, theauxiliary capacity wiring having a narrow line width at an intersectionwith a source line and having a broad line width in a pixel pattern. 9.The display panel according to claim 3, wherein the active matrix typedisplay panel is a TFT (thin film transistor) driven type display panel.10. A display apparatus comprising the display panel according to claim3.